In article <Grant-me-that-0109103@Grant.Grant>, +Grant.
<+Grant@grant.grant> wrote:
> The Adventures of Stevie #36
>
> These stories were told to me by friends and other people. Some of them
> are true. Some of them are only partly true. Some of them should have
> been true. LOL
>
> My first post about Stevie ("Call me Stephen!") was when he was 12 and
> in summer camp and was told by another camper. This was from a time
> before computers would fit on a desk and when people communicated with
> friends in other countries by actual letters sent through the postal
> service. When children did this those friends were called "penpals".
> Carlos is Stevie's penpal in Argentina and knows English. This is a
> fictional contrivance to enable Stevie to tell us his stories because
> he isn't here in person. I think.
> All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
> that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
> Stevie's school is for gifted children who don't fit in regular schools.
> The stories may not be posted in chronological order.
> Stevie is 11 in this story. It is the winter holiday break of year 2 of
> his special school.
>
>
> The Adventures of Stevie #36 "Disowned"
>
>
> Dear Carlos,
>
>
> Jeremy called me at 5 in the afternoon. He was crying. He is in real
> bad trouble. His father made him leave his home and never come back,
> because he is gay. I wanted to ask what happened but I didn't want
> anybody else to hear it so I asked him to call back at 8 o'clock at
> night on my father's office phone, and gave him the number. I hoped
> father wouldn't be upset with me for doing that. When he came home from
> work at 5:30 I signaled emergency and we went into his office. I told
> him what Jeremy told me and what I told Jeremy. He said I did well.
> Then I said like I was desperate, which I was, "We HAVE to help him! He
> needs a place to live and some way he can pay for college next year. I
> can't bear for him to feel bad. I LOVE him!"
>
> Father said "What to you mean by you love him?" I said "I love lots
> of people and he is one of them. If you mean did we do sex, I can tell
> you we didn't and we won't. You know him. I don't know how anybody
> could not love him. Everybody did at camp, even the director. I HAVE to
> help him, but I don't know how. I know one thing. He can't live here
> all the time. Mother would hurt him in his mind and feelings real bad."
> Father said, "Yes, that much is true. I will see about some things
> right now, and we will discuss it with him when he calls." He was
> picking up the phone when I was going out of his office.
>
> I didn't want to eat supper. I thought I was going to throw up and
> didn't want to make a mess, but I had to eat. Mother doesn't allow any
> excuses for not eating her terrible cooking. She would make me stay at
> the table all night to finish if I had to. I really didn't want to miss
> Jeremy's call. I forced myself to eat like normal for me, but I
> couldn't hold it in after we left the table. I made it to the bathroom
> in time to throw up in the toilet. I turned on the water in the sink to
> make noise so they might not hear what I was doing. I don't remember
> what I did until 8, except I was walking all over the different rooms.
> I couldn't be still.
>
> Father and me were in his office when the phone rang. It was Jeremy.
> He told us he couldn't hide who he was from his parents anymore, and
> told them he was gay. His mother cried but said she still loved him.
> HIS FATHER PUNCHED JEREMY IN HIS FACE AND BROKE HIS NOSE!!! His father
> said he couldn't live there any more and he wasn't his son anymore
> forever. This is the first time I ever wanted to kill somebody. Really.
> Kill. I think I would have if his father were in front of me right
> then. I was standing next to our high top wood office guest chair, and
> holding on to the top of the back with my left hand. I crushed and
> splintered it to little bits just by squeezing it hard. It cut my hand
> but I didn't feel it. I knew because I saw blood, after I heard the
> wood yell at me for hurting it. I hid my hand from father, behind me.
>
> I told father "We have to go to the hospital," which was where Jeremy
> still was, because he didn't have anyplace to go. "He needs somebody
> and we are all he has right now." Father agreed, but I could see him
> trying to think up a reason for mother. I showed him my hand and "Here
> is our excuse." He nodded and told Jeremy we would be there as soon as
> we could. I don't know why father agreed with me about everything,
> because he is a hard man. I don't think it was because he cared that
> much about Jeremy. Maybe it was because he was angry about what
> happened to him, and he knew It would be VERY bad for me if we didn't
> help.
>
> We went to the hospital. Jeremy was sitting with his mother in the
> emergency room waiting room, with a big white bandage on the middle of
> his face. I ran up to him and was about to grab him but slowed down and
> stopped right in front of him, because I didn't know if I would hurt
> him. He stood up. I leaned my head against his chest and cried my heart
> out for him.
>
> Jeremy said "Hey, it's alright, you should see the other guy. Not a
> mark on him. It's not a big deal, it's only my nose," and he poked me.
> I said "I know that, because it's not MY nose," and I poked him back.
> Have you ever tried to cry and laugh at the same time? I think it's not
> something you try, but don't. It makes you look really silly. Gives you
> hiccups, too. I didn't care. He was still the real Jeremy I loved.
>
> Father talked with Jeremy's mother. I sat with Jeremy and didn't do
> anything but be with him and him with me. We didn't need to say
> anything. Then a nurse came to us to take me to see the doctor for my
> hand which I had forgot about. Jeremy went with me. The Doctor didn't
> believe me about how it happened. Jeremy got upset and told him "He's
> not a liar. If he says it happened that way, it did. He can prove how
> strong his hands are, if you want to risk a broken hand yourself.
> Shake?" The doctor didn't. Smart of him. I wasn't in a good mood.
>
> Jeremy is staying with us until the holidays are over. Mother is
> fussing over him in a good way, but I don't know how long that will
> last. The other kids like him so there is no trouble there. His mother
> went to her home from the hospital, and we drove home with Jeremy. He
> sat in the back seat with me. We hugged all the way home. I tried very
> hard not to cry for him because he said it would make him cry and make
> his nose hurt. I could NOT let that happen. He sleeps in mother's
> sewing room. Sometimes I sleep with him there. I have permission
> because I told my parents Jeremy is lonely and hurting and needs a
> friend with him sometimes to keep him company in the dark. Father said
> it was a good idea and it was very considerate of me, before mother
> could be mean about it. I didn't know if she would have, because she
> likes him, but it's better not to take any chances with her.
>
> Father found a family who will let Jeremy live with them until he
> goes to college. They have two other children there who didn't have
> real homes to go to, and father said they are really good people who
> don't care if Jeremy is gay. My mother doesn't know. She just knows
> there was a private family problem which would be better if he stayed
> away from his home for a while. I think she thinks Jeremy's father is
> an alcoholic. It might be true. Jeremy can go to college because his
> mother's parents already put the money away for it. I was very happy
> for him when I found out.
>
> I thanked father for all his help. He told me, "Did I have a choice?"
> He smiled a little when he said it. That's as much affection as he can
> show me. I have to love who he is, not who I might want him to be. He
> is much better without showing affection, than most fathers who show it
> all the time, because I know he cares and would give his life for me,
> and most of all, he likes and respects me for everything I am. I
> wouldn't trade him for anybody.
>
> Jeremy and his mother didn't tell the police what happened. His
> mother didn't because she is afraid, and Jeremy didn't because he is
> nice. I don't KNOW how anybody could not love and care about him. He
> didn't do anything wrong. He never hurt anybody. He helps people all
> the time. He is really nice and considerate and polite to everybody. He
> can't help his feelings, and there is nothing wrong with them. People
> should not be mean to him because of that. HE DOESN'T DESERVE IT.
>
> I just made myself angry about it again. I will sleep with him
> tonight. It will make me feel better. Him too. Love makes everybody
> feel better when they need it. Everybody should have it and not hate. I
> wish I could make everybody feel the love I give and receive. I don't
> know how. Maybe I will someday.
>
>
> Your friend,
>
> Stephen
Important story. Well crafted.
Mover
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